Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Cleaning Disassembled Lawn Mower Engine, briggs stratton, carbon buildup

Question
As a sort of educational project, I'm in the middle of disassembling a Briggs & Stratton lawn mower engine, in the hopes of cleaning it, reassembling it, and getting it to work again.  I understand the point about it being more cost effective to go out and get a new mower - I saw some today that proved that point.

Nevertheless, I am doing this as a sort of exploration.

What I'm wondering at this point is how I clean all the old gunk, carbon buildup, etc off the engine - both inside and out.  Do I need to use some volatile solvent?  If so, what?  Or is there some other way?

Any advice you can give would be appreciated.

The engine, by the way, is a Briggs & Stratton 12C802, on a Montgomery Ward lawn mower...

Thanks & regards,
Bill

Answer
There are many cleaning methods.  For external cleaning we use a pressure washer.  For the internal components we scrape carbon from the head and piston top, then dis-assemble the engine and clean in a parts washer.

A paint brush and some kerosene or parts cleaner fluid works just as well.  Both have much higher flash points than gasoline or aceatone and therefore are much safer to use.
Let me know if this helps.
Eric